Brussow must be one of the unluckiest guys with all these injuries....

Heinrich Brussow has been ruled out for six months with a shoulder injury. According to SuperSport.com, Brussow injured himself against Griquas last Saturday, and after assessing his injury, the Cheetahs decided to let him have surgery on the shoulder so he can return as early as possible for next year’s Super Rugby tournament.

Brussow had already missed the Cheetahs’ first four Currie Cup games because of a knee injury.

Shame, poor guy can't catch a break

Vito hoping to stake a claim on the All Blacks

Victor Vito hoping to use Saturday's Test against Argentina as an opportunity to stake a claim on the All Blacks blindside berth.

Since the departure of Jerome Kaino, Vito, Adam Thomson and Liam Messam have been competing for the black number six jumper and with the Pumas loose trio in blistering form, Vito is eager to show what he is capable of.

"I try to stay quite level-headed really, and if anything it's about being a cold-blooded hunter rather than a hot-headed one who's probably going to do the wrong move but might get a good hit on someone," the Hurricanes loose forward told Fairfax NZ News.

"Liam's set a really good bar with the physicality, along with all the other loosies as well. I really don't want to be the one who's left behind there. If anything, I want to take the yardstick out a bit further."

Cruden in for Carter

Dan Carter has been forced to pull out of Saturday's Test against Argentina after suffering a calf strain.

The ace playmaker was withdrawn from the side just hours after the team was announced on Thursday.

Coach Steve Hansen said Carter had been carrying a tight left calf in training during the week but had hoped to play.

"However, at training this morning it was apparent that he would not be able to play so we have done the sensible thing and withdrawn him from the Test match," Hansen said.

Aaron Cruden will now start in the 10 jersey, with Beauden Barrett, who made his Test debut against Ireland in June, called on to the bench.

It will be the 23-year-old Cruden's 13th Test but just his fifth start as he continues to benefit from injuries.

He was called up during last year's World Cup when Carter was injured and came on against Argentina in the quarter-finals when then fly-half understudy Colin Slade was injured.

Ruan Pienaar believes containing Wallabies captain Will Genia could help

Ruan Pienaar believes containing Wallabies captain Will Genia could help his team prevail in Saturday's clash in Perth.

Pienaar has identified Genia as Australia's dangerman and feels his battle with the Reds number nine is the most difficult assignment that any player in his side will face.

"Will's probably the most important guy in the Australian side so it's a big challenge for me, but I think that's why you play rugby to play against the best guys and hopefully I can do a proper job," Pienaar told AAP.

"Obviously for me he's probably the best nine in world rugby for a couple of seasons now and he's a player who can create something out of nothing.

"I think the whole Australian team will be keen to do well (after back-to-back losses to New Zealand) and we didn't get what we wanted out of those two Argentina games (one loss and a draw) ... so it's going to be an interesting game and a tough game."

Pienaar knows how how important a win is for the Springboks and the Wallabies as both teams are some way off the pace set by the table-topping All Blacks.

"It's a must-win for both teams and for us travelling over here it's a big challenge playing in Perth," he said.

"Both of us are under a bit of pressure and want to perform well and build momentum going forward in this competition."

Sonny Bill Williams revealed he's trying to convince Wallabies Quade Cooper to join him in switching to the NRL

Sonny Bill Williams revealed that he is trying to convince Wallabies Quade Cooper to join him in making a switch to the NRL.

W'hile plying his trade with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, he is set to make a return to the NRL in 2013 and he believes Cooper could make a successful move to rugby league.

Cooper was left out of Australia's squad at the beginning of their Rugby Championship opener against New Zealand in Sydney and was criticised for his showing in the Wallabies' 22-0 Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.

"If people are saying he is not wanted in rugby... if they think he is not good enough to be playing for Australia then I would love to lure him across to rugby league for a year," Williams told Australia'sSunday Telegraph newspaper.

"I will try. I would definitely love to play alongside him. I think he would be a success - I have spoken to him about it."

Cooper delivered inconsistent performances at last year's World Cup in New Zealand and he was booed during the global showpiece by Kiwi supporters who accused him of taking cheap shots at All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

But Williams is convinced he will be a hit if he decides to switch codes.

"I don't have to make a case for him, you just have to click on YouTube to see what he is capable of," he said.

"He is such a great talent that he cops a lot of stick, especially in New Zealand. A lot of people have a go at him, but I think that's because he is their biggest threat," he said.

"It is more of a compliment than anything."

SBW in Japan

Sonny Bill Williams arrived in Japan on Thursday, boosting the profile of the game in the country ahead of its 2019 hosting of the Rugby World Cup.

After being part of the All Blacks line-up that crushed Australia 22-0, will play with 2010 Top League winners, Panasonic Wild Knights.

Coach Norifumi Nakajima said it was exciting to have a player of Williams' calibre on board.

"I'm really happy that Sonny Bill Williams, one of the best centre backs in the world, has joined the Panasonic Wild Knights this season," he said.

"I think his performance will have a great impact not only for the Wild Knights but also the Japanese rugby world.

"I'm sure that he will help us to make further progress. He will be a great help to regain the titles of the Top League and the national championships."

The 27-year-old Rugby World Cup winner, who helped the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title in 2012, bagged a host of national caps for his native New Zealand in his rugby union spell.

However, the All Blacks' policy of only selecting players who ply their trade in New Zealand will likely put an end to his international career, for the time being at least.

Williams is also the reigning New Zealand Boxing Association heavyweight champion.

Michalak enjoying his return to the Top 14

Frederic Michalak is enjoying his return to the Top 14 but admits he and his team-mates still have room for improvement.

After returning to France from South Africa, where he was playing for the Sharks in a second spell, after a persuasive selling job by Toulon's president Mourad Boudjellal last December.

Michalak, who first played for the Sharks in 2008 and won the Currie Cup before agreeing to return there last year, played his first Top 14 game in more than a year last Saturday.

Having left Toulouse towards the end of the 2010-11 season, his return home came for Toulon in a 29-15 win over Mont-de-Marsan that made it three wins from three games for his new side.

The 29-year-old, whose list of honours includes three Heineken Cups during his 10 years at Toulouse, said he was delighted to have restarted his career in France with a victory, but added that there was much work to be done.

"The match was not exceptional from a team point of view," said Michalak, who has been capped 56 times and has been reunited with former France coach Bernard Laporte, who selected him for both the 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

"However, we will put that right," he added.

"Each week we will try and improve.

"We are joint top of the table so that is good, especially for our confidence."

Michalak identified where they needed to improve.

"We are still losing a lot of possession, we are lacking in our attacking game but it is only the beginning of the season and we are conscious that we should do better," he revealed.

"We are already better individually so I am sure that as a team we can get better as well."

Michalak, who is enjoying playing and training alongside former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, hadn't given returning to France much thought until Boudjellal started courting him.

"I was in South Africa and not many people were thinking of me at the time back here," he said.

"Mourad Boudjellal spoke to me about the club, the supporters, his love of the shirt, the history of the club which I didn't really know a lot about.

"And it is that which I really liked. And then it is also a club that has signed over the last five years players I really wanted to play with.

"At the moment I am very well here, there is a really good atmosphere."

Michalak, who reached the Super Rugby final with the Sharks, where they were outclassed 37-6 by the Chiefs, is happy to be back under Laporte's tutelage.

"It is going well," he said.

"For the moment he is giving me time to fit into the team and to learn the different combinations.

"I am all ears for what he asks of me. If Guy Noves (Toulouse coach) and he have a different vision of rugby, at the same time they are both leaders, and they both have the capacity to rally the players round at difficult times."

Debate has raged round Michalak throughout his career whether he was best at scrum-half or fly-half and it was not a question he is willing to resolve.

"It is a question that has been put to me since the age of 18," he said.

"And the answer is the same, I will not reply as it serves no purpose."

Michalak to play for Toulon

Back in the Top 14 after Super Rugby duty with the Sharks, Frédéric Michalak is eyeing a place in the France squad when he debuts for Toulon.

Michalak, capped 54 times for Les Bleus, has been lured from his beloved Toulouse to play for Toulon - the Mourad Boudjellal-funded Mediterranean club which already boasts ex-England talisman Jonny Wilkinson and Australian playmaker Matt Giteau among their ranks.

The 29-year-old fly-half has been in impressive form of late, having helped guide the Sharks to the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs. It didn't end well, however, with the South African outfit going down 37-6 in Hamilton.

Michalak is now back home, where he is hoping to tranfer his new-found form on the Super Rugby stage to the Top 14 and then - if things go his way - the Test arena.

"The France team is one of my goals and it's for that reason I wanted to come back to France," said Michalak.

Michalak is not certain to be a starter for Saturday's away match at Perpignan, with Toulon still awaiting a licence. But Toulon coach Bernard Laporte said he wanted him to "be competitive as soon as possible".

"I don't feel tired, but I want to respect the life of the squad that has suffered during pre-season training. I'll play when the coach decides," said Michalak.

"Bernard is someone who helped bring me to the highest level with the France team. He knows me well, I know his desire to win, to take players as far as possible."

All Blacks open The Rugby Championship season with a win

New Zealand opened their Rugby Championship account with a 27-19 win over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

It was a tale of two halves. The Wallabies first took an early lead but The All Blacks did enough in the opening forty minutes of the match to bag four competition points as they kicked off the inaugural championship with a hard-fought victory.

The All Blacks scored two tries, both from set scrums which were the best moments in the match. The match ended with the Wallabies uncomfortably close to the All Blacks, who were the better side. That way it was so close is probably testimony to Wallaby resoluteness.

The scrums were a mess, line-outs were better. Wallabies handling errors were too many to grant them a good game. The All Blacks won the turnovers and in the first half enjoyed the quick ball. For some reason Will Genia preferred slowing down the game and it worked against his side. The Wallaby try came when he allowed his team to play quickly.

The second half became a battle of the boots as Carter and Barnes exchanged penalties. But, even after drawing the second half 9-9, the Wallabies weren't able to bridge the gap.

The result also means Richie McCaw and his merry men have taken a giant stride towards holding onto the Bledisloe Cup which has been in their possession since 2003.

Man of the match: All Blacks flanker Liam Messam repaid his coaches' faith by carrying his impressive Super Rugby form to the Test arena, while halfback pair Aaron Smith and Dan Carter proved once again to be a lethal combination. But the player who stood head and shoulders above the rest was Israel Dagg. The star full-back caused havoc whenever he touched the ball, bagged a try for his efforts and set up another.

Moment of the match: You just can't keep a good Dagg down! With only centimetres to work with, Dagg's 13th-minute touchdown after skinning his opposite number on the outside takes the cake.

Villain of the match: Despite an improved second half from Australia, they were unable to atone for Kurtley Beale's critical blunders in what was an error-prone performance by the full-back who will carry some self-inflicted psychological damage to Eden Park after letting in both of New Zealand's tries.

The scorers:

For Australia:
Try: Sharpe
Con: Barnes
Pens: Barnes 4

For New Zealand:
Tries: Dagg, Jane
Con: Carter
Pens: Carter 5

Yoh! Lions suspend Mitchell

The Golden Lions Rugby Union has suspended coach John Mitchell with immediate effect following complaints from the players regarding his management style.

The players have long been frustrated at Mitchell’s man management, which often features vitriolic criticism and unusually punishing training sessions, especially after performances he deems unsatisfactory.
One such session, on Monday, was the tipping point for the players. A source described it as ‘bordering on inhumane’ while another spoke about the players’ anger at being ‘treated like children’. Both confirmed that such poor man management has been an outstanding feature of Mitchell’s reign (there was a similar player revolt at the end of Mitchell’s stint with the Western Force).

Strauss took up the players’ cause with Lions president Kevin de Klerk, who said on Friday that ‘the nature of the complaints is so serious that we have suspended him, pending further investigation.’
Assistant coaches Carlos Spencer and Johan Ackerman will take control of the team for their remaining Super Rugby matches.

With the Lions in a financial crisis it is unlikely that they will be able to afford to fire Mitchell. They will hope the New Zealander walks away without seeking compensation for early dismissal, or that he will be open to negotiating a fee that would suit both parties.

This latest incident simply deepens the troubles of the already embattled franchise. With the Kings guaranteed inclusion in Super Rugby in 2013, the Lions, who have won just two matches this season, face relegation.

Saru has insisted that a solution will be reached that won’t see any South African franchise relegated. However, the Cheetahs have already indicated they are not open to a merger, while Sanzar, the governing body that oversees Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship, has stressed that no additional team will be accommodated under the current format.

Another Top 14 Season upon us....

Talk about a jam-packed 2012/2013 Rugby season, there's 29 rounds of rugby (including the knock-out phases) to go through and also remember that theres also Eropean fixtures, 6 Nations and June Tests to consider.... That  isn't much right?

Its going to be a lengthy season, at least ten teams have legitimate hopes of making the top six and qualifying for the Heineken Cup.

So let's take a look at who has what it takes to go all the way :

Champions of the last two seasons and France's most decorated club, Toulouse must once again be considered favourites to defend their title. Despite having the league's biggest budget, Guy Novès seldom splashes out in the transfer market but his recruitments are always from the top drawer. The return of Yoann Huget from Bayonne and the arrival of heavyweight youngsters Antoine Guillamon (Lyon) and Edwin Maka have left the squad as strong as ever. William Servat's conversion from hooker to forwards coach will be closely watched. The policy of turning former players into coaches has worked well in the past and in young Christopher Tolofua, Toulouse have a quality replacement on the field.

Beaten in the semi-finals of both the Heineken Cup and the Top 14 when they looked unstoppable, Clermont are a safe bet to be in the mix at the business end of the season. Despite their knack for breaking records, they have formed a habit of stumbling at the final hurdle. All that matters now in the Auvergne is silverware and Vern Cotter's side certainly have the necessary firepower. Keep an eye on fan favourite Napolioni Nalaga, who returns after a stint with the Western Force in Super Rugby.

Losing finalists in June, Toulon have once again gone on a major shopping spree in their bid to finally bag a trophy. Masoe, Durand, Michalak, Armitage x 3, Mermoz, Sheridan, Jenkins... the big names continue to arrive in the Var. They now have all the players required to compete on both the European and domestic fronts. Another year without silverware will be considered a major failure.

There have been a few major shifts behind the scenes at Racing-Metro where former Argentina international Gonzalo Quesada has taken over from Pierre Berbizier, whose old-school bully approach was no longer appreciated by many players. Sixth place last year was not good enough considering the money spent. The arrival of Dimitri Szarzewski, Mathieu Bélie, Luc Ducalcon and Sakiusa Matadigo will add some new blood to the squad but the departures of new big names - notably François Steyn - might leave the Parisians a little short of the requirements for the title.

After making the play-offs for three straight years, the perennial nearly-boys of the Top 14, Castres will hope to finally have a crack at the final. Relatively quiet on the transfer front, CO have compensated for the departure of Chris Masoe by signing former Springbok loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg. Also keep an eye on former Hurricanes pivot Daniel Kirkpatrick and full-back Brice Dulin, who arrives from Agen after making his Test debut in June.

Three former champions in a period of rebuilding, Perpignan, Stade Français, Biarritz have announced grand objectives for 2013.

After their worst season in years, 2009 champions Perpignan have made headlines by signing a few big names - especially Tongan try-machine Sona Taumalolo - but they have seen a large chunk of the squad exit for greener pastures.

Stade Français have totally changed their coaching staff as they seek a revival of fortunes after failing to make the play-off for three consecutive years. For once they've looked in-house and former flank Richard Pool-Jones has been charged with the task of bringing silverware back to the capital.

Montpellier have been punching above their weight for a few seasons thanks to a dynamic coaching team. Many feel Fabien Galthié was unlucky not to get the France job and their staff will be even stronger with the addition of Mario Ledesma as forwards mentor.

Bubbling under, ....

Agen and Bordeaux-Begles defied the predictions of many last season and finished relatively comfortably in mid-table. One of the oldest clubs in the country, Agen are taking their time about building for the future but are making constant, steady progress. Scotland tighthead Euan Murray will stabilise the scrum while South African lock Ross Skeate brings plenty of experience.

Former France legend Raphaël Ibanez has taken command at Bordeaux-Begles, who will be aiming to improve their defence but will expect to produce a few more upsets.

A number of big-name signings disappointed last season but Bayonne have grand ambitions and have flung their cheque book around once again. Former Wallaby Mark Chisholm will lead the Basque team this season. Keep an eye on 21-year-old sensation Marvin O'Connor, who has been tipped for big things.

As is always the case, the newly-promoted sides will struggle to make the step up from the ProD2.  Grenoble however, have promised to play attractive rugby and have legitimate ambitions of avoiding the drop after winning their way back into the top flight for the first time in seven years. After convincingly winning the ProD2, the core of their squad has been maintained although former Toulouse number eight Shaun Sowerby and Perpignan fly-half Nicolas Laharrague will add significant strength to their team.

Mont-de Marsan are no strangers to the top flight but are unlikely to stay up after winning promotion in a shock play-off win over Pau at the end of last season. Scottish international Scott Murray will be their star this season.

Oh Captain my Captain Richie McCaw finally back for the Crusaders

Richie McCaw will make an appearance on the Crusaders bench against the Hurricanes after a lengthy battle with a foot injury.

McCaw hasn’t played since the World Cup final in October 2011. There were fears that it was so severe that he would be forced into premature retirement. However, McCaw assured the media that those fears were unfounded.

In other changes, the Franks brothers, Ben and Owen, start at loosehead and tighthead prop , while Luke Romano comes into the second row in place of Sam Whitelock.

Dan Carter continues his stint in midfield.

Will Genia to join Western Force? Seriously?

I was confirmed yesterday that Melbourne Reds and Wallabies scrumhalf will join the Western Force next season.

Shock, right? I mean I don't understand Australian teams and their players sometimes,  waisting their talent by leaving teams that have been performing well for struggling teams. It makes if you know you are a good player, playing the best players in the country as a team and dominating as apposed to going off and being the superstar of an ok team. I get that they are spreading the talent amongst the teams but this decisions i don't understand.

It almost feels like he's abandoning ship because with Quade Cooper out on injury and Digby Ioanes suspension the Reds have been struggling. But I guess money talks.

The move will only be confirmed next week, but it is believed that Genia has already agreed terms to leave defending Super Rugby champions the Reds for the Force in 2013. This comes after the player requested an improved contract to remain in Australia, with demands of a A$400 000-a-season deal.

There were potential moves to Europe and Japan on the cards before the Force offered Genia a lucrative deal. The signing of Genia has also convinced Wallabies flank and Force captain David Pocock to agree a new deal to extend his stay in Perth.

This is going to be a massive loss for the Reds, I'm starting to wonder what Quade Cooper s going to do when or if he comes back from injury.

Hougaard to stay with the Bulls

It was reported that talented scrum half Francois Hougaard signed a 3 year deal extending his contract with the Bulls. Good news for the team indeed considering that there were rumours that he wold go back to Westeern prvince and that he also had other offers to go abroad to play.

He moved from Western Province to the Bulls in late 2007.

Hougaard said: ‘This is where it all really started for me and in the last four years I have worked very hard in the structures to establish myself in the side. I put a very high premium on hard work and the work ethic at the Bulls is something I feel very comfortable with. I know how hard not only the players, but the coaching staff work to achieve results.’

The Beast is Back!

Wow, It felt like he was gone forever. Sharks Tendai Mtawarira is back in action this week in the Vodacom Cup after making a faster than expected recovery from injury.

He suffered a bad ankle injury at the begining of the year while training and had to have surgery, He recovered 2 weeks early. The 26-year-old is in the starting line-up for the Sharks XV's clash with the EP Kings at Kings Park on Saturday. This is good news for Sharks, Beast will  add great value to the team for a place in the playoffs.

The Sharks play the Chiefs this weekend before enjoying a bye next week, so there is a good chance Tendai could be involved in the next clash against the Highlanders on May 5.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer must be a pleased man with these news.

Counting the days till Peter Grant is back at no.10 for The Stormers, but Gary van Aswegen should be good for now right, ....

Not to take anything away from the young Gary van Aswegen who has ‘unbelievable potential’ playing in Super Rugby. But I cant wait for flyhalf Peter Grant to come back in the country and feature for the Stormers.

They said he wont be available until early March due to his commitments to the Japanese club Kobe Steelers took him away from the Stormers’ pre-season games. So the Stormers have had to search for a more dependable, and potentially greater, longer-term option.

Van Aswegen held his own during the first few games of the 2011 competition, but is this year that he will be expected to exercise more control and authority. We all know that the Stormers have been having issues with finding a flyhalf , but the coach has  faith in Van Aswegen as a player.
De Villiers said ‘We’re basically preparing as if Bash [Grant] isn’t going to be here,’ . ‘Gary has done well with the few opportunities that he’s had, and I think we’re in a better position now than we were at the same time last year with regards to the flyhalf situation.

‘Gary is maturing as a player, he has unbelievable potential. I have a role to play in mentoring young players like Gary, but at the same time I’m excited to be playing next to him.’

Van Aswegen has started 2 games thus far during the pre-season. While he will have De Villiers on his outside at No 12, he won’t have the Stormers’ best scrumhalf, Dewaldt Duvenage, on his inside.

With all that said we shouldnt worry about Gary starting now and Grant starting later,... right?

I hate that I have to admit this about the Sharks ...

After last year, the drama within the teams, players moving to other countries in search of greener pastures and the retirements.

I had a discussion with my friends and I cannot believe it but I had to admit that the Sharks, compared to last year’s best-performing South African  team the Stormers, represent South Africa’s best chance of success in the 2012 Super Rugby season.

According to the latest edition of Sports Illustrated magazine and the artlicles I have read about the upcoming Super Rugby season.

They have theSharks finishing second on the overall log behind the Crusaders, last season’s runners-up and the top side in the Super Rugby history, and thus winning the SA conference.

It tips the Stormers, last year’s domestic conference winners and eventually beaten semi-finalists, to end fifth overall and as conference runners-up, thus qualifying again for the playoffs as the only other South African team to do so.

According to the magazine, the rebuilding Bulls will end seventh, just outside the playoffs, cash-strapped Currie Cup champions the Lions 11th and the Cheetahs 12th.

“The Sharks have all the personnel, skills and smarts a team could wish for. Now they just need the belief,” SI said.

It cited favourable aspects for the Sharks like the fact that they don’t meet the Crusaders on the pre-playoff calendar this season, and will play defending champions the Reds at home.

In slightly downgrading the Stormers this year, the magazine said: “They have the goods to take top (conference) spot if they fire on all cylinders, but when they backfire, they do so spectacularly.”

On a broader level, as the tournament faces a record-length year marked by a three-week break for Test rugby, it quoted SARU chief executive Jurie Roux as admitting that the schedule was “challenging not only from a player point of view but also because we have the incoming English tour in the middle of the Super Rugby competition which makes selling both quite tricky”.

He added: “It’s certainly easier to handle the promotion of one tournament at a time. The Test window will put added pressure on the new Bok coach because he’ll have hardly any time to work with the players before the first England Test.”

Rugby players partying like Rockstars, Part 2

The Kiwis also like to party. Shocked onlookers at a bar watched as a naked, drunk and bleeding Zac Guildford staggered into a beachside Rarotonga bar and assaulted two holidaymakers.

Witnesses said the All Black winger suddenly appeared dripping wet and without clothes in Trader Jacks, a popular bar and restaurant, about 10pm on Friday (NZ time).

He was bleeding from a gash to his forehead and wounds on his chest and knees, thought to have happened when he fell off a scooter earlier in the day.

The 22 year old Guildford first punched one man in the bar who asked him if he needed help. The All Black then staggered to the bar and hit Australian Nick Cox across the back of the head.

In September, Guildford admitted to a drinking problem and met with All Blacks coaches to promise he would take steps to control his drinking.(Umm,... Yeah)

But the Kiwis watching him on Friday night say his behaviour was appalling.


Luckily  Zac Guildford has kept his lucrative New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) contract but been banned for four games and ordered to undergo alcohol counselling